
What is a Smartcard?
NHS Smartcards are similar to chip and PIN bank cards and enable healthcare professionals to access clinical and personal information appropriate to their role.
A user's Smartcard is printed with their name, photograph and unique user identity number (UUID)
On initial registration for a Smartcard, Registration Authorities are required to ask applicants for identification which satisfies the government recommended standard 'e-Gif Level 3', providing at least three forms of ID (photo and non-photo), including proof of address.
Individuals are granted access to patient information based on their work and level of involvement in patient care.
This means that for example, a doctor's receptionist may only see the information needed to process an appointment, not the full clinical record. Each time someone accesses a patient's or staff record, it will be recorded and patients can formally request to see this information.
Staff will also continue to be bound by professional codes of conduct, local regulations, the Data Protection Act and the NHS Code of Confidentiality.
A Smartcard used in conjunction with a passcode, known only to the Smartcard holder, gives secure and auditable access to national and local Spine enabled health record systems, such as SystmOne TPP, Electronic Staff Record (ESR) and the NHS e-Referral Service.